The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class goes through an "assertive" exterior upgrade.
Some vehicles never quite live up to their initial expectations, and the original Mercedes-Benz R-Class was one of those. Of course, it would have helped if the automaker did a better job of positioning the people mover. Those who bought the R-Class were generally pleased with its van-like qualities, but the van-like looks didn’t quite live up to the official designation of “sport tourer.”
So, Mercedes is giving it another try, with a fairly significant mid-cycle update that looks more sporty – “a new level of assertiveness,” in the automaker’s words – but still maintains the original R-Class functionality. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class will make its formal debut, this week, at the New York International Auto Show.
The new nose on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class is less droopy, with a taller hood and wider grille, as well as a revised fascia and the addition of LED driving lamps. There’s a new rear bumper, restyled tailpipes and an updated taillights, as well. All add up to a look that’s more macho, SUV-like.
The changes to the interior of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class are more subtle.
The interior retains its basic layout, with optional six or seven-passenger seating – along with all the nooks and crannies you’d expect in a people mover.
The powertrain choices are holdover, with either a 3.5-liter V6 making 268-horsepower, or a 210 hp V6 turbodiesel.
Whether all this will make much of a difference remains to be seen. The R-Class has never developed a buzz in the U.S. market, and it could take more than a moderate update to kickstart the nameplate.
Mercedes still calls it a "sport tourer," but most folks will still see it as a facny minivan, with all the baggage that carries with it.
Curiously, the original R-Class launched about the same time as the Pacifica, another people mover that fell into the neither-fish-nor-foul category and never quite connected with the public. Pacifica, you may recall, was built by Mercedes’ former U.S. partner, Chrysler. Too wagon like, it eventually vanished from the line-up like a tree falling in the woods, silent and unnoticed.